A former Queen’s University researcher was arrested in England and brought back to Northern Ireland by police on New Year’s Eve over allegations of threats to kill another academic.

PSNI detectives travelled to England to arrest former psychology research fellow Dr Patrick Martens, who has been accused of threatening to kill a senior academic at the Belfast university.

The 33-year-old researcher, who was barred from the university campus last September, was questioned and later released on bail.

Queen’s secured a High Court injunction on September 1 against Dr Martens which prevented him from setting foot on the campus. The 33-year-old was also banned from going within five miles of the village where his alleged victim lives.

At the hearing in Belfast, Judge Mr Justice McCloskey granted the interim injunction after referring to “various disturbing acts” alleged as part of the case.

Dr Martens, who is half German and half English, denies the claims. The research fellow returned to his home city of Hamburg in the autumn to seek legal advice.

Police were called in after threats allegedly continued against the senior academic.

However, the university, which had suspended Dr Martens pending an internal inquiry, had no address for contacting him.

The PSNI eventually tracked him down to England and brought him to Northern Ireland for questioning on New Year’s Eve.

Background

Police are investigating allegations of intimidation and threats to kill made by a former research fellow from Queen’s University against an academic colleague.

The university obtained a High Court injunction last September to bar Dr Patrick Martens from the campus.

Dr Martens has denied the allegations.. Police arrested and released Dr Martens on bail on New Year’s Eve.